8.22 Alternative scales
| Category: Harmony | Tags: Scales, Ear training: scales |
Theory
Apart from the major and minor scale, there are several other scales. In this chapter you will learn about church modes, the gypsy scale, pentatonic scale, blues scale, whole-tone scale and octatonic scale. You will also learn to distinguish church modes by ear.
1. Church modes
The church modes were used in church music in the Middle Ages. There are six different church modes, these have names derived from the ancient Greek music theory. Church modes are using the notes of white-note scales, starting on C, D, E, F, G or A. The term mode or modus can be described as a type of musical scale.
Ionian
The Ionian mode consists of the following sequence: whole - whole - half - whole - whole - whole - half.
The Ionian mode became the major scale and therefore sounds exactly like the major scale.
The Ionian mode starting on C.
Dorian
The Dorian mode consists of the following sequence: whole - half - whole - whole - whole - half - whole.
The Dorian mode sounds like the minor scale with a raised sixth tone.
The Dorian mode starting on C.
Phrygian
The Phrygian mode consists of the following sequence: half - whole - whole - whole - half - whole - whole.
The Phrygian mode sounds like the minor scale with a lowered second tone.
The Phrygian mode starting on C.
Lydian
The Lydian mode consists of the following sequence: whole - whole - whole - half - whole - whole - half.
The Lydian mode sounds like the major scale with a raised fourth tone.
The Lydian mode starting on C.
Mixolydian
The Mixolydian mode consists of the following sequence: whole - whole - half - whole - whole - whole - half
The Mixolydian mode sounds like the major scale with a lowered seventh tone.
The Mixolydian mode starting on C.
Aeolian
The Aeolian mode consists of the following sequence: whole - half - whole - whole - half - whole - whole.
The Aeolian mode became the minor scale and therefore sounds exactly like the minor scale.
The Aeolian mode starting on C.
The major scale originated from the Ionian mode. The minor scale originated from the Aeolian mode. This took place from the middle of the 17th century.
2. Gypsy scale
The gypsy scale corresponds with our (harmonic) minor scale, in which the fourth tone is raised.
The occurrence of twice an augmented second (1 1/2 step) is typically for this scale.
Examples
This scale is used in folk music of the Balkans, Spain and Portugal and in gypsy music in North Africa.
3. Pentatonic scale
The pentatonic scale is a scale that uses only five different notes within the octave. The Greek word penta means five.
There are many different ways to create a pentatonic scale.
The most used is is based on the major scale without the fourth and seventh tone.
Examples
The black keys on a piano keyboard comprise a pentatonic scale.
Chinese musical scales are all based pentatonic scales and are used for thousands of years. Black key improvisations sound "Chinese".
4. Blues scale
The blues scale is a pentatonic scale with an extra tone (half step) added between the fourth and fifth tone.
This scale originated in the late 19th century.
Examples
5. Whole-tone scale
The whole-tone scale is entirely made up of whole steps.
Since the notes of the whole-tone scale are the same distance apart, they all seem to be of equal importance. None automatically stands out as a tonic or dominant. The fifths in this scale are all augmented.
Examples
6. Octatonic scale
The octatonic scale has eight different tones within the octave. Octa means eight.
This scale is comprised of alternating a whole step and a half step.
Examples
7. Practise
Harmony exercise 8x: practise recognizing alternative scales.
Get the full course8. Ear training
Practise
Ear Training exercise 8f: Distinguishing the difference between Ionian, Lydian and Mixolydian by ear.
Ear Training exercise 8f: Distinguishing the difference between Aeolian, Dorian and Phrygian by ear.
Ear Training exercise 8f: Distinguishing the difference between all church modes by ear.
Get the full courseExample question
Which church mode do you hear?
Choise 1: Ionian
Choise 2: Dorian
Choise 3: Phrygian
Choise 4: Lydian
Choise 5: Mixolydian
Choise 6: Aeolian
Practical steps
Sing the mode being played to form an idea of this mode. Decide which mode is being played.
Answer: Lydian.
Summary
Alternative scales
There are six different church modes:
- The Ionian mode is using the notes of white-note scales, starting on C.
- The Dorian mode is using the notes of white-note scales, starting on D.
- The Phrygian mode is using the notes of white-note scales, starting on E.
- The Lydian mode is using the notes of white-note scales, starting on F.
- The Mixolydian mode is using the notes of white-note scales, starting on G.
- The Aeolian mode is using the notes of white-note scales, starting on A.
Other scales are:
- The gypsy scale corresponds with our (harmonic) minor scale, in which the fourth tone is raised.
- The pentatonic scale is a scale that uses only five different notes within the octave.
- The blues scale is a pentatonic scale with an extra tone (half step) added between the fourth and fifth tone.
- The whole-tone scale is entirely made up of whole steps.
- The octatonic scale has eight different tones within the octave.
Practise
Harmony exercise 8x: practise recognizing alternative scales.
Get the full courseEar training
Ear Training exercise 8f: Distinguishing the difference between Ionian, Lydian and Mixolydian by ear.
Ear Training exercise 8f: Distinguishing the difference between Aeolian, Dorian and Phrygian by ear.
Ear Training exercise 8f: Distinguishing the difference between all church modes by ear.
Get the full course